Little known faces take on Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani in Amethi

Amethi: Rahul Gandhi might be fighting one of his toughest electoral battles in Amethi this time, facing Aam Aadmi Party’s Kumar Vishwas and BJP’s Smriti Irani. But there are many unknown entities too challenging him in this Gandhi family bastion to improve what many locals say are its pathetic conditions.

Rahul Gandhi

Most of these parties may not cause any dent in Rahul Gandhi’s prospects in this keenly watched contest, but they claim to be fighting for the poor and backward classes and development of the constituency. Take the example of Gopal Swaroop Gandhi of the Kisan Majdoor Berojgar Sangh who is fighting to better the lot of labourers and farmers by ending corruption.

“If I win, I will work for farmers, labourers and the unemployed. These people don’t have a bargaining chip and practically no voice in our country,” said Gandhi, who is the national secretary of his party. Pragatisheel Samaj Party’s CL Maurya on the other hand aims to provide all benefits to Amethi, which since independence has mostly elected a Congress member.

“My main aim is that people of Amethi should get benefits like government hospitals, schools, railways and toilets at every home,” said Maurya. The Pragatisheel Samaj Party was launched four years ago and also fought the Delhi assembly election last year.

Vedpal Shastri, who represents the Vanchit Samaj Insaaf Party, is not too sure about the number of candidates put up by his party in these polls, but he is sure of his party’s agenda. “I represent those who don’t have anything. They don’t have a voice in our country,” he said.

“People think Amethi being a star constituency is like Singapore and Paris. But actually conditions are pretty pathetic here. The Congress has represented Amethi for nearly 50 years, but still there has been no development,” he added.

NCP and NC oppose snoopgate probeNew Delhi: In a major snub for the Congress, two of its allies the NCP and the National Conference opposed an inquiry commission to probe the snoopgate allegations against BJP leader Narendra Modi, saying that the timing was not right.

NCP leader and union minister Praful Patel said: “The decision to set up an inquiry into the allegations was taken in December. Now with 10 days to go for election results, it’s not the right time.”

Another Congress ally, the National Conference, also questioned the timing of the order. “If the decision to appoint a commission was taken in December, it should have been implemented.

To appoint a judge five months later, is wrong,” NC leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.